Ham Radio NowMon, 12 Nov 2018 04:40:54 +0000Mon, 12 Nov 2018 04:50:59 +0000Libsyn WebEngine 2.0http://hamradionow.tv
enhttp://hamradionow.tvw0dhg@arrl.net (w0dhg@arrl.net)http://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/4/9/5/3/4953c9302ec7d0f6/Ham_Radio_Now_Logo_TV.pngHam Radio NowGary Pearce KN4AQ, Amateur Radio//Video Newsamateur,ham,radiocleangpearce10@gmail.comepisodicHRN 405: On the set at Last Man StandingMon, 12 Nov 2018 04:40:54 +0000Gary KN4AQ, Cyndi KD4ACW, and David W0DHG talk about their trip to Los Angeles and their visit to the stage of Last Man Standing! ]]>Gary KN4AQ, Cyndi KD4ACW, and David W0DHG talk about their trip to Los Angeles and their visit to the stage of Last Man Standing! ]]>01:50:38cleanfullHRN 404 W7VO for ARRL Northwestern Division DirectorWed, 19 Sep 2018 22:42:52 +0000Mike Ritz W7VO joins David to talk about his race to become the division director in the Northwestern Division. ]]>Mike Ritz W7VO joins David to talk about his race to become the division director in the Northwestern Division. ]]>47:50cleanfullN2RJ FOR Hudson Division: RevisitedMon, 03 Sep 2018 13:36:55 +0000 David visits with Ria Jairam to discuss her run for Hudson Division Director.]]> David visits with Ria Jairam to discuss her run for Hudson Division Director.]]>01:13:03cleanfullHRN 402: AREDN REVISITEDMon, 03 Sep 2018 13:34:05 +0000 Live video shot in the San Fernando Valley. David joined Paul Strauss WD6EBY and Orv Beach W6BI (and a few others) for a trip to the DARN Verdugo Peak repeater site and another location above Simi Valley. This trip was to help increase bandwidth and coverage of AREDN Mesh.]]> Live video shot in the San Fernando Valley. David joined Paul Strauss WD6EBY and Orv Beach W6BI (and a few others) for a trip to the DARN Verdugo Peak repeater site and another location above Simi Valley. This trip was to help increase bandwidth and coverage of AREDN Mesh.]]>34:25cleanfullHRN 401: AREDN Inc.Wed, 15 Aug 2018 03:16:01 +0000Randy Smith WU2S joins David and Darren AJ6BL to talk about Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network.

]]>01:34:13cleanfullHRN 400: Gary's Top 10 showsMon, 13 Aug 2018 02:55:35 +0000Gary and David review Gary's favorite shows. ]]>Gary and David review Gary's favorite shows. ]]>01:45:52cleanfullHRN 399 7/8 ZumSpot SetupSat, 04 Aug 2018 16:23:52 +0000 Darren and David setup a ZumSpot. We also made some changes in the studio in order to bring you better audio. This is the first episode to use the Wirecast Rendezvous feature, and it worked great!]]> Darren and David setup a ZumSpot. We also made some changes in the studio in order to bring you better audio. This is the first episode to use the Wirecast Rendezvous feature, and it worked great!]]>37:50cleanfull399.75 Learning about DMRWed, 04 Jul 2018 00:58:24 +0000David and Guest Darren La Groe talk about getting up and running on DMR. Darren get's David up to speed on the nomenclature of DMR. We get my MD-380 working.]]>David and Guest Darren La Groe talk about getting up and running on DMR. Darren get's David up to speed on the nomenclature of DMR. We get my MD-380 working.]]>01:33:45cleandmr,hamradionow,w0dhg,aj6bl,papasystemfullHRN 399.5 CQ Field Day from WA6PSun, 01 Jul 2018 19:45:42 +0000 Gwen and David talk about their 2018 Field Day from San Vicente Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. We had a great time at Field Day, and hope that you did too. Please let us know in the comments what you did for Field Day!]]> Gwen and David talk about their 2018 Field Day from San Vicente Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. We had a great time at Field Day, and hope that you did too. Please let us know in the comments what you did for Field Day!]]>58:35cleanfullHRN 399: N2RJ for Hudson Division DirectorTue, 19 Jun 2018 20:22:41 +0000Ria Jairam N2RJ joins Gary and myself to discuss her announced plans to run for Hudson Division Director. The first few minutes contains some ECHO, but it goes away after about 15 minutes. ]]>Ria Jairam N2RJ joins Gary and myself to discuss her announced plans to run for Hudson Division Director. The first few minutes contains some ECHO, but it goes away after about 15 minutes. ]]>01:11:41cleanfullHRN 398: Guess Who's BackSat, 16 Jun 2018 13:52:02 +0000I'm back, May was busy, but I have a new show and more coming next week. In 398 I introduce a new sidekick (you asked for one) and I talk about how I got started in Ham Radio. ]]>I'm back, May was busy, but I have a new show and more coming next week. In 398 I introduce a new sidekick (you asked for one) and I talk about how I got started in Ham Radio. ]]>43:06cleanfullHRN 397: HamStudy.orgHRN397 HamStudy.orgThu, 03 May 2018 20:25:37 +0000 This weeks guest Richard Bateman KD7BBC owner of HamStudy.org talks about the HamStudy product, a newly released set of mobile applications, and signalstuff.com if you are interested Richard gave me a discount code for the products from signalstuff.com: hamradionow (all lower case - good until 5/31/2018)]]> This weeks guest Richard Bateman KD7BBC owner of HamStudy.org talks about the HamStudy product, a newly released set of mobile applications, and signalstuff.com if you are interested Richard gave me a discount code for the products from signalstuff.com: hamradionow (all lower case - good until 5/31/2018)]]>01:25:12cleanThis weeks guest Richard Bateman KD7BBC owner of HamStudy.org talks about the HamStudy product, a newly released set of mobile applications, and signalstuff.com. fullHRN 396 Field Radio PodcastSun, 15 Apr 2018 19:31:46 +0000 John Jacobs W7DBO from the Field Radio Podcast is my guest. We talk about his podcast, podcasting and how he got involved with HamRadio360. John builds awesome custom go boxes (http://www.commstogo.com/). John and I discuss our experiences producing content for the internet about Ham Radio and Field Day! ]]> John Jacobs W7DBO from the Field Radio Podcast is my guest. We talk about his podcast, podcasting and how he got involved with HamRadio360. John builds awesome custom go boxes (http://www.commstogo.com/). John and I discuss our experiences producing content for the internet about Ham Radio and Field Day! ]]>02:22:08cleanfullHRN 395 Baker to VegasHRN 395 Baker to VegasSun, 15 Apr 2018 03:26:15 +0000 A combination show: On the road to the race, an interview with John Rosica KA2FND of NVIS Communications, and raw video from the race at Stage #9. It's a little rough copy, but you are hams, hopefully you can pull the good stuff out of the noise. Doing sound in the field is apparently hard... I am getting some equipment to make it better in the future. ]]> A combination show: On the road to the race, an interview with John Rosica KA2FND of NVIS Communications, and raw video from the race at Stage #9. It's a little rough copy, but you are hams, hopefully you can pull the good stuff out of the noise. Doing sound in the field is apparently hard... I am getting some equipment to make it better in the future. ]]>01:36:38cleanA combination show: On the road to the race, an interview with John Rosica KA2FND of NVIS Communications, and raw video from the race at Stage #9. It's a little rough copy, but you are hams, hopefully you can pull the good stuff out of the noise. Doing sound in the field is apparently hard... I am getting some equipment to make it better in the future. fullHRN394 Radio Relay InternationalRadio Relay International - HRN 394Sun, 18 Mar 2018 04:01:19 +0000David W0DHG talks to Jim Wades WB8SWI and Joe Ames W3JY of Radio Relay International about the organization, it's beginnings, how it works, and why. Radio Relay International can be found at http://radio-relay.org/]]>David W0DHG talks to Jim Wades WB8SWI and Joe Ames W3JY of Radio Relay International about the organization, it's beginnings, how it works, and why. Radio Relay International can be found at http://radio-relay.org/]]>01:31:22cleanDavid W0DHG talks to Jim Wades WB8SWI and Joe Ames W3JY of Radio Relay International about the organization, it's beginnings, how it works, and why. Radio Relay International can be found at http://radio-relay.org/394fullW0DHGHRN 393: Tech 'Enhanced'; Lisenco on the Hudson; What's Next at myARRLvoiceARRL Tech 'Enhancement', Lisenco on the Hudson, myARRLvoiceMon, 05 Mar 2018 17:13:42 +0000Dan KB6NU, Marty N6VI(in studio guest!), and Gary KN4AQ join David W0DHG for the first show recorded from the West Coast Studio.

We talk about the new ARRL proposal to the FCC to add HF privileges for Tech class licenses. We also talk about the Hudson Division Town Hall and MyARRLvoice....

Gary plays several clips lifted from the Hudson Division Town Hall webinar (February 2018) in which Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB makes some strong (and unsupported) statements about the censure of fellow Director Dick Norton N6AA, at one point accusing Norton of creating a "toxic environment" at the Board. You can hear a full, unedited recording of that Town Hall (with noise reduction to eliminate a loud hum on Lisenco's audio) at the HamRadioNow web site for Episode 393:

]]>Dan KB6NU, Marty N6VI(in studio guest!), and Gary KN4AQ join David W0DHG for the first show recorded from the West Coast Studio.

We talk about the new ARRL proposal to the FCC to add HF privileges for Tech class licenses. We also talk about the Hudson Division Town Hall and MyARRLvoice....

Gary plays several clips lifted from the Hudson Division Town Hall webinar (February 2018) in which Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB makes some strong (and unsupported) statements about the censure of fellow Director Dick Norton N6AA, at one point accusing Norton of creating a "toxic environment" at the Board. You can hear a full, unedited recording of that Town Hall (with noise reduction to eliminate a loud hum on Lisenco's audio) at the HamRadioNow web site for Episode 393:

]]>02:20:59cleanDan KB6NU, Marty N6VI(in studio guest!), and Gary KN4AQ join David W0DHG for the first show recorded from the West Coast Studio.
We talk about the new ARRL proposal to the FCC to add HF privileges for Tech class licenses. We also talk about the Hudson Division Town Hall and MyARRLvoice....
Full "Town Hall" audio on the HamRadioNow web site for Episode 393393fullW0DHGHRN 392: ARES and Agency RelationshipsARES and Agency Relationships on HRN #392Sat, 24 Feb 2018 18:04:30 +0000Curmudgeon hams will rant about how professional Emcomm agencies see no value in ham radio. And in some areas that's true.

The ARES forum from the Yuma AZ Hamfest - Roozy Moabery W1EH, ARRL DEC for part of the sprawling Los Angeles area, talks about how hams there have created a great working relationship with their served agencies.

This is a slide-show talk, but the slides are all text headlines for the topics Roozy covers, so the RADIO RATING is still A.

]]>Curmudgeon hams will rant about how professional Emcomm agencies see no value in ham radio. And in some areas that's true.

The ARES forum from the Yuma AZ Hamfest - Roozy Moabery W1EH, ARRL DEC for part of the sprawling Los Angeles area, talks about how hams there have created a great working relationship with their served agencies.

This is a slide-show talk, but the slides are all text headlines for the topics Roozy covers, so the RADIO RATING is still A.

]]>57:25cleanCurmudgeon hams will rant about how professional Emcomm agencies see no value in ham radio. And in some areas that's true.
The ARES forum from the Yuma AZ Hamfest - Roozy Moabery W1EH, ARRL DEC for part of the sprawling Los Angeles area, talks about how hams there have created a great working relationship with their served agencies.
This is a slide-show talk, but the slides are all text headlines for the topics Roozy covers, so the RADIO RATING is still A.392fullW0DHG, W1EHHRN 391: Dick Norton N6AA at Yuma ARRL ForumARRL Director Dick Norton N6AA in HRN 391Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:44:38 +0000Dick Norton N6AA, the ARRL SW Division Director, is at the center of the dust-up (Firestorm?) at the ARRL Board of Directors. He's the director who was censured in a special Board Meeting last fall for what the Board said were inappropriate comments at the Visalia DX convention the previous spring. He's also the Director that Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB said was partly responsible for a 'toxic environment' at the League. Lisenco's comments came during a Hudson Division web Town Hall in early 2018, with a link from this QRZ.com discussion. (Note that the audio recording of that webinar is pretty bad, but it's also pretty interesting if you can tough it out.)

In this episode, Dick Norton discussed his censure and the ARRL Board Code of Conduct at the ARRL Forum at the Yuma AZ Hamfest in February. HamRadioNow's host David Goldenberg W0DHG recorded the session.

Radio Rating: A

]]>Dick Norton N6AA, the ARRL SW Division Director, is at the center of the dust-up (Firestorm?) at the ARRL Board of Directors. He's the director who was censured in a special Board Meeting last fall for what the Board said were inappropriate comments at the Visalia DX convention the previous spring. He's also the Director that Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB said was partly responsible for a 'toxic environment' at the League. Lisenco's comments came during a Hudson Division web Town Hall in early 2018, with a link from this QRZ.com discussion. (Note that the audio recording of that webinar is pretty bad, but it's also pretty interesting if you can tough it out.)

In this episode, Dick Norton discussed his censure and the ARRL Board Code of Conduct at the ARRL Forum at the Yuma AZ Hamfest in February. HamRadioNow's host David Goldenberg W0DHG recorded the session.

Radio Rating: A

]]>01:36:43cleanARRL SW Director Dick Norton N6AA talks about the Board Code of Conduct, his censure and more at the Yuma Hamfest ARRL Forum.;391fullW0DHG, N6AAHRN 390: Huntsville Hamfest Update, Live from OrlandoHuntsville Hamfest Update, Live from OrlandoMon, 12 Feb 2018 15:48:36 +0000Mark Brown N4BCD is the new chairman of the Huntsville Hamfest. A little birdie (named Michael Kalter) told him to cross the street and talk to that Gary guy for some free publicity, so we caught up on the latest from what's probably the #3 fest in the US after Dayton and Orlando.

Mark takes over after the passing of Charlie Emerson N4OKL, who we described as "the benevolent dictator of the Huntsville Hamfest" back in HamRadioNow Episode 29.

RADIO RATING: A

]]>Mark Brown N4BCD is the new chairman of the Huntsville Hamfest. A little birdie (named Michael Kalter) told him to cross the street and talk to that Gary guy for some free publicity, so we caught up on the latest from what's probably the #3 fest in the US after Dayton and Orlando.

Mark takes over after the passing of Charlie Emerson N4OKL, who we described as "the benevolent dictator of the Huntsville Hamfest" back in HamRadioNow Episode 29.

RADIO RATING: A

]]>20:29cleanMark Brown N4BCD is the new chairman of the Huntsville Hamfest. A little birdie (named Michael Kalter) told him to cross the street and talk to that Gary guy for some free publicity, so we caught up on the latest from what's probably the #3 fest in the US after Dayton and Orlando.
Mark takes over after the passing of Charlie Emerson N4OKL, who we described as "the benevolent dictator of the Huntsville Hamfest" back in HamRadioNow Episode 29.
RADIO RATING: A390fullHRN 389: The ZED (and a Dayton Update), Live from OrlandoHRN 389: The ZED (and a Dayton Update), Live from OrlandoMon, 12 Feb 2018 15:36:04 +0000Sunday morning was the 'drop-by' time for HamRadioNow, apparently. Gary looked up from the laptop where he was working on the HRN website to see QRZ.com founder Fred Lloyd AA7BQ standing there. So of course, let's do a show!

We just got started when the Dayton Hamvention's media guy Michael Kalter W8CI waked by. Both Michael and Fred were time-limited (so, OK, wrong show, guys), but they generously gave us what they could, and probably a little more. Thanks!

RADIO RATING: A.

]]>Sunday morning was the 'drop-by' time for HamRadioNow, apparently. Gary looked up from the laptop where he was working on the HRN website to see QRZ.com founder Fred Lloyd AA7BQ standing there. So of course, let's do a show!

We just got started when the Dayton Hamvention's media guy Michael Kalter W8CI waked by. Both Michael and Fred were time-limited (so, OK, wrong show, guys), but they generously gave us what they could, and probably a little more. Thanks!

Last year, Bryan Fields W9CR led a coalition of dissatisfied repeater owners and members of the Florida Repeater Council in a successful effort to take control of that organization. There was some conflict, but eventually Bryan's group prevailed. The changed the name and re-incorporated. Now they have to make good on their pledge to provide better coordination service. Bryan explains how.

Radio Rating: A.

]]>The full title is Florida Amateur Spectrum Management Assn., or FASM.

Last year, Bryan Fields W9CR led a coalition of dissatisfied repeater owners and members of the Florida Repeater Council in a successful effort to take control of that organization. There was some conflict, but eventually Bryan's group prevailed. The changed the name and re-incorporated. Now they have to make good on their pledge to provide better coordination service. Bryan explains how.

Radio Rating: A.

]]>50:22cleanThe full title is Florida Amateur Spectrum Management Assn., or FASM.
Last year, Bryan Fields W9CR led a coalition of dissatisfied repeater owners and members of the Florida Repeater Council in a successful effort to take control of that organization. There was some conflict, but eventually Bryan's group prevailed. The changed the name and re-incorporated. Now they have to make good on their pledge to provide better coordination service. Bryan explains how.
Radio Rating: A.388fullKN4AQ, W9CRHRN 387: The YL Show, Live from OrlandoThe YL Show, Live from OrlandoSun, 11 Feb 2018 02:29:04 +0000The call signs are: WA4YL, AC4YL and AG4YL. So what do you think this show might be about? Dawn, Cathrine and Melanie had just given the YL Forum at Orlando, and Gary invited them to keep going on the show.

RADIO RATING: A.

]]>The call signs are: WA4YL, AC4YL and AG4YL. So what do you think this show might be about? Dawn, Cathrine and Melanie had just given the YL Forum at Orlando, and Gary invited them to keep going on the show.

RADIO RATING: A.

]]>01:22:31cleanThe call signs are: WA4YL, AC4YL and AG4YL. So what do you think this show might be about? Dawn, Cathrine and Melanie had just given the YL Forum at Orlando, and Gary invited them to keep going on the show.
RADIO RATING: A. fullKN4AQ, WA4YL, AC4YL, AG4YLHRN 386: Bruce Perens K6BPBruce Perens K6BPSun, 11 Feb 2018 02:24:35 +0000Bruce Perens K6BP. Pretty sure we don't need to say any more.

RADIO RATING: A

]]>Bruce Perens K6BP. Pretty sure we don't need to say any more.

RADIO RATING: A

]]>01:25:41cleanBruce Perens K6BP. Pretty sure we don't need to say any more.
RADIO RATING: A386fullKN4AQ, K6BPHRN 385: HamCation TOUR 2018HamCation TOUR 2018Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:21:54 +0000Gary takes you on a video tour of the Orlando HamCation, and... what? This is just audio? Yeah, you're gonna miss something. But it's more or less narrated, and we're giving it a RADIO RATING of B.

Then we get a surprise guest. Fan of the show N1LGQ stopped by to chat, and we put him on the air.

]]>Gary takes you on a video tour of the Orlando HamCation, and... what? This is just audio? Yeah, you're gonna miss something. But it's more or less narrated, and we're giving it a RADIO RATING of B.

Then we get a surprise guest. Fan of the show N1LGQ stopped by to chat, and we put him on the air.

]]>23:31cleanGary takes you on a video tour of the Orlando HamCation, and... what? This is just audio? Yeah, you're gonna miss something. But it's more or less narrated, and we're giving it a RADIO RATING of B.
Then we get a surprise guest. Fan of the show N1LGQ stopped by to chat, and we put him on the air.385fullHRN 384: AMSAT Update from OrlandoAMSAT Update from OrlandoSat, 10 Feb 2018 03:11:58 +0000New AMSAT President Joe Spier K6WAO joins Gary for a wide-ranging discussion of all things AMSAT.

RADIO RATING: A. Nothing to see here. Move along (and play the audio).

]]>New AMSAT President Joe Spier K6WAO joins Gary for a wide-ranging discussion of all things AMSAT.

RADIO RATING: A. Nothing to see here. Move along (and play the audio).

]]>01:33:06cleanNew AMSAT President Joe Spier K6WAO joins Gary for a wide-ranging discussion of all things AMSAT.
RADIO RATING: A. Nothing to see here. Move along (and play the audio).384fullHRN 383 - Orlando LIVE TestLIVE Test from OrlandoSat, 10 Feb 2018 03:07:45 +0000HRN Host Gary KN4AQ scrambled to set up a new SIB* for the Orlando HamCation. He thought it was all working before he took it apart and hauled it to the 'fest.

He didn't.

But the show must go on. Of after swatting bugs (the system kind, not the Florida kind... the HamCation isn't infested...) Thursday night and early Friday morning, Gary pushed the LIVE button, and Jason Johnston KC4HWB from HamRadio2.0 helped him launch this hamfest's series of shows.

Most of the problems were video related, and while you'll hear about them, you won't see them. You also won't see that the whole show is out of sync.

The subsequent shows worked better, after Gary beat on the system a little more. OK, a lot more.

RADIO RATING: A. All these Orlando shows are Talking Heads in the SIB, so you don't need no stinking (out of sync) video.

*Studio In a Booth

]]>HRN Host Gary KN4AQ scrambled to set up a new SIB* for the Orlando HamCation. He thought it was all working before he took it apart and hauled it to the 'fest.

He didn't.

But the show must go on. Of after swatting bugs (the system kind, not the Florida kind... the HamCation isn't infested...) Thursday night and early Friday morning, Gary pushed the LIVE button, and Jason Johnston KC4HWB from HamRadio2.0 helped him launch this hamfest's series of shows.

Most of the problems were video related, and while you'll hear about them, you won't see them. You also won't see that the whole show is out of sync.

The subsequent shows worked better, after Gary beat on the system a little more. OK, a lot more.

RADIO RATING: A. All these Orlando shows are Talking Heads in the SIB, so you don't need no stinking (out of sync) video.

Digital Voice for Amateur Radio was the most complex of the three documentaries that HamRadioNow'sGary Pearce KN4AQ produced for DVD, before starting the online show. In 2007, Gary traveled to Alabama and Dallas in one trip, Chicago and St. Louis in another, and Washington DC in a third to gather interviews and footage of what was then just emerging as Digital Voice systems for Amateur Radio. The program was edited and released on DVD in 2008.

The DV modes included an HF mode called WinDRM (which evolved to today's FreeDV), and VHF/UHF modes D-STAR and P-25.

Of course, these modes have evolved since this program was produced, and newer modes like DMR, Yaesu System Fusion, and NXDN have been developed. Consider this program a snapshot in the early history of Amateur Radio Digital Voice. It's certainly not a current tutorial on operating those modes today.

Radio Rating: C- at best. This was a video documentary, and while there is a lot of talking, most of the pictures you're missing are equipment in operation, locations, and a few graphics. You'll miss a lot, but since there's so much information, you'll learn a lot, too. [The Radio Rating is our estimate of how much you'll get from the program audio without the video. It's not a rating of the overall program. Those are always A+]

]]>From the archives of Amateur Radio//Video News...

Digital Voice for Amateur Radio was the most complex of the three documentaries that HamRadioNow's Gary Pearce KN4AQ produced for DVD, before starting the online show. In 2007, Gary traveled to Alabama and Dallas in one trip, Chicago and St. Louis in another, and Washington DC in a third to gather interviews and footage of what was then just emerging as Digital Voice systems for Amateur Radio. The program was edited and released on DVD in 2008.

The DV modes included an HF mode called WinDRM (which evolved to today's FreeDV), and VHF/UHF modes D-STAR and P-25.

Of course, these modes have evolved since this program was produced, and newer modes like DMR, Yaesu System Fusion, and NXDN have been developed. Consider this program a snapshot in the early history of Amateur Radio Digital Voice. It's certainly not a current tutorial on operating those modes today.

Radio Rating: C- at best. This was a video documentary, and while there is a lot of talking, most of the pictures you're missing are equipment in operation, locations, and a few graphics. You'll miss a lot, but since there's so much information, you'll learn a lot, too. [The Radio Rating is our estimate of how much you'll get from the program audio without the video. It's not a rating of the overall program. Those are always A+]

]]>01:09:43cleanFrom the archives of Amateur Radio//Video News... Digital Voice for Amateur Radio, produced on DVD in 2008. The full video of the program is on the http://HamRadioNow.tv web site, Episode 381381fullKN4AQHRN 380: Bored of DirectorsBored of Directors - HRN 380Fri, 19 Jan 2018 04:20:18 +0000David and Gary catch up on the final details of all the proposals and revisions that are going into the ARRL Board of Directors meeting this weekend.

]]>01:46:08cleanDavid and Gary catch up on the final details of all the proposals and revisions that are going into the ARRL Board of Directors meeting this weekend.380fullW0DHG, KN4AQHRN 379: One League Under the SiegeOne League Under the Siege: HamRadioNow 379Mon, 08 Jan 2018 15:45:51 +0000Oh Noooo... another two-hour plus episode :-(

Is it too late to tell you that the important meat of this show runs a scant 90 minutes. Get in at the 7:45 mark, and you'll be done about 93 minutes. The last 45 is just David and Gary goofing around.

In that 90 minutes we review what's been going on with the ARRL, from the Code of Conduct to the proposed revisions to the Bylaws and Articles of Association. We look at a new group that's formed to protest some of the ARRL Board's actions. And mostly we read some detailed responses to inquiries that Gary and others sent to some of the Directors. They're not coming on the shows yet, but they are being more responsive than we saw initially (though, as Roanoke Division Director Dr. Jim Boehner N2ZZ noted, those responses won't satisfy many critics).

That new group is called myARRLvoice. Some members of the 'steering committee' for the group are former Board members who could not speak in opposition to League policies until their terms expired on January 1. Now they can. Their web site will have links to the documents we reference in the show.

Radio Rating: A+. As usual, a few web sites, but we don't even put the text we're reading on the screen (Gary didn't have time to format it). [The 'Radio Rating' does not measure the quality of the program content. It's our guess as to how much you lose if you aren't watching the video of the show].

]]>Oh Noooo... another two-hour plus episode :-(

Is it too late to tell you that the important meat of this show runs a scant 90 minutes. Get in at the 7:45 mark, and you'll be done about 93 minutes. The last 45 is just David and Gary goofing around.

In that 90 minutes we review what's been going on with the ARRL, from the Code of Conduct to the proposed revisions to the Bylaws and Articles of Association. We look at a new group that's formed to protest some of the ARRL Board's actions. And mostly we read some detailed responses to inquiries that Gary and others sent to some of the Directors. They're not coming on the shows yet, but they are being more responsive than we saw initially (though, as Roanoke Division Director Dr. Jim Boehner N2ZZ noted, those responses won't satisfy many critics).

That new group is called myARRLvoice. Some members of the 'steering committee' for the group are former Board members who could not speak in opposition to League policies until their terms expired on January 1. Now they can. Their web site will have links to the documents we reference in the show.

Radio Rating: A+. As usual, a few web sites, but we don't even put the text we're reading on the screen (Gary didn't have time to format it). [The 'Radio Rating' does not measure the quality of the program content. It's our guess as to how much you lose if you aren't watching the video of the show].

]]>02:13:47cleanOh Noooo... another two-hour plus episode :-(
Is it too late to tell you that the important meat of this show runs a scant 90 minutes. Get in at the 7:45 mark, and you'll be done about 93 minutes. The last 45 is just David and Gary goofing around. Details in the full show description.379fullW0DHG, KN4AQHRN 368: Bouvet 2018Bouvet 2018 - HamRadioNow #378Thu, 04 Jan 2018 03:19:42 +0000Hal Tourley W8HC is our tour guide for this preview of the 3Y0Z Bouvet Island DXpedition, where 20 top DXpeditioners will travel to the most remote spot of land on Earth to warm up from the brutal winter we're having in North America.

Radio Rating: B+. We've got some pictures and maps from the DXpedition website, so if you can visit there sometime soon, you're all set. (The Radio Rating is our estimate of how well you're understand the program from just the audio track, without the video.)

]]>Hal Tourley W8HC is our tour guide for this preview of the 3Y0Z Bouvet Island DXpedition, where 20 top DXpeditioners will travel to the most remote spot of land on Earth to warm up from the brutal winter we're having in North America.

Radio Rating: B+. We've got some pictures and maps from the DXpedition website, so if you can visit there sometime soon, you're all set. (The Radio Rating is our estimate of how well you're understand the program from just the audio track, without the video.)

]]>01:29:29cleandxpedition,bouvet,3y0zHal Tourley W8HC is our tour guide for this preview of the 3Y0Z Bouvet Island DXpedition, where 20 top DXpeditioners will travel to the most remote spot of land on Earth to warm up from the brutal winter we're having in North America.378fullW8HC, W0DHG, KN4AQHRN 377, BS#11: ARRL, CQ, Happy New YearARRL, CQ, Happy New Year from HamRadioNow 377Sun, 31 Dec 2017 03:57:22 +0000The ARRL has yet another proposal coming to the January Board Meeting — a fairly extensive revision to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws with some curious changes in how the board can remove a member and a Director. CQ is pointing it out, but they've got their own trouble getting issues printed. And our friend Dan KB6NU has details on his Blog. David and Gary review the review.

Then they talk about the state of and future of HamRadioNow as Gary plans his escape.

]]>The ARRL has yet another proposal coming to the January Board Meeting — a fairly extensive revision to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws with some curious changes in how the board can remove a member and a Director. CQ is pointing it out, but they've got their own trouble getting issues printed. And our friend Dan KB6NU has details on his Blog. David and Gary review the review.

Then they talk about the state of and future of HamRadioNow as Gary plans his escape.

]]>01:52:54cleanA review of more proposals for the ARRL board meeting, and State of the Show.377fullKN4AQ, W0DHGHRN 376, BS#10: Holiday Bull SessionHoliday Bull Session: HRN 376/BS#10Sat, 23 Dec 2017 04:50:37 +0000David and Gary meander around several topics and eventually land on the proposal by ARRL Hudson Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB to confer voting privileges in board meetings on the League President and three Vice Presidents. We're told that Mike will submit the proposal as a motion at the January ARRL Board Meeting.

And there are cats.

Radio Rating: A. You won't miss anything except the cats, and David's UFO.

]]> David and Gary meander around several topics and eventually land on the proposal by ARRL Hudson Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB to confer voting privileges in board meetings on the League President and three Vice Presidents. We're told that Mike will submit the proposal as a motion at the January ARRL Board Meeting.

And there are cats.

Radio Rating: A. You won't miss anything except the cats, and David's UFO.

]]>01:31:21cleanDavid and Gary meander around several topics and eventually land on the proposal by ARRL Hudson Director Mike Lisenco N2YBB to confer voting privileges in board meetings on the League President and three Vice Presidents. We're told that Mike will submit the proposal as a motion at the January ARRL Board Meeting.
And there are cats.376fullKN4AQ, W0DHGHRN 375: Ham Radio - The Best 1000 Hobbies - 2017 DCC BanquetHam Radio: The Best 1000 Hobbies - HRN 375 from the 2017 DCCMon, 18 Dec 2017 00:49:59 +0000From the title, you might expect 2017 DCC Banquet speaker Tom McDermott N5EG to just list all the specialties that make up ham Radio, from ATV to DX, Repeaters to QRP. But that's not the direction he takes. Tom's looking at the leading edge of technology as it applies now, and will apply in the near future, to ham radio.

And that makes this talk depart from the usually non-technical DCC banquet presentations. He probably left some spouses behind, but even if you're a non-so-technical ham, eventually you'll catch up.

Radio Rating: C. However, you might need some of Tom's slides to help you keep up. Many of them are just headline text, but there are enough pictures and charts, and a few comics, that you'll miss the context here and there. As usual, if listening leaves too many blanks, head to the web site and watch the video for Episode 375.

And this completes our series from the 2017 ARRL & TAPR Digital Communications Conference, held September 15-17 in St. Louis, MO.

HamRadioNow is viewer (listener) supported. There's no advertising, and this year no KICKSTARTER for the DCC. If you want to help out a bit, stop by https://HamRadioNow.tv and 'click the pig'.

]]>From the title, you might expect 2017 DCC Banquet speaker Tom McDermott N5EG to just list all the specialties that make up ham Radio, from ATV to DX, Repeaters to QRP. But that's not the direction he takes. Tom's looking at the leading edge of technology as it applies now, and will apply in the near future, to ham radio.

And that makes this talk depart from the usually non-technical DCC banquet presentations. He probably left some spouses behind, but even if you're a non-so-technical ham, eventually you'll catch up.

Radio Rating: C. However, you might need some of Tom's slides to help you keep up. Many of them are just headline text, but there are enough pictures and charts, and a few comics, that you'll miss the context here and there. As usual, if listening leaves too many blanks, head to the web site and watch the video for Episode 375.

And this completes our series from the 2017 ARRL & TAPR Digital Communications Conference, held September 15-17 in St. Louis, MO.

HamRadioNow is viewer (listener) supported. There's no advertising, and this year no KICKSTARTER for the DCC. If you want to help out a bit, stop by https://HamRadioNow.tv and 'click the pig'.

#2 is Chicago. The perpetual Second City (even though Los Angeles took that USA title a few decades ago). And yes, even though you've never heard of it, nearly 150 hams pitch in to help it run smoothly.

Rob Orr K9RST has been the lead ham for the Chicago Marathon for the past decade, recruiting from a coalition of radio clubs and individual hams to provide communications for the medical side of the event (similar to the ham's mission at Boston). And as you'll hear, he really has a handle on it all.

Host David Goldenberg w0DHG leads this chat, as Gary KN4AQ hides behind the scenes (mostly). And note that this is the usual in-depth interview, but the show really runs about 95 minutes, and the rest is the 'post-show party' (aka The Best Part of the Show).

Radio Rating: A+. Rob provided some stills that give you a flavor of the event, but you'll get the complete story from the audio.

]]>The New York Marathon. World's biggest, right? And Ham Radio is huge there.

The Boston Marathon. Ham Radio is big there, too. And it's, what, #2?

Nope. Worldwide, it's not even close. In the USA, it's #3 (as of 2015, anyway, the last year a quick web search had stats).

#2 is Chicago. The perpetual Second City (even though Los Angeles took that USA title a few decades ago). And yes, even though you've never heard of it, nearly 150 hams pitch in to help it run smoothly.

Rob Orr K9RST has been the lead ham for the Chicago Marathon for the past decade, recruiting from a coalition of radio clubs and individual hams to provide communications for the medical side of the event (similar to the ham's mission at Boston). And as you'll hear, he really has a handle on it all.

Host David Goldenberg w0DHG leads this chat, as Gary KN4AQ hides behind the scenes (mostly). And note that this is the usual in-depth interview, but the show really runs about 95 minutes, and the rest is the 'post-show party' (aka The Best Part of the Show).

Radio Rating: A+. Rob provided some stills that give you a flavor of the event, but you'll get the complete story from the audio.

]]>02:12:22cleanradio,chicago,marathon,ham,amateurOur chat with Rob Orr K9RST, lead ham for the Chicago Marathon. Details in the full description374fullW0DHG, K9RSTHRN 373: IMPROVING Citizen Weather from the 2017 DCCImproving Citizen Weather from the 2017 DCC - HRN 372Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:04:17 +0000This is Part Two of the Sunday Seminar at the 2017 TAPR DCC.

Part One was in HRN Episode 372 (immediately preceding this episode), and both are on the topic of the Citizen Weather Observer Program - all those weather stations that you and your friends have.

In Part One, Gerry Creager N5JXS described the station components, what data they generate and how NOAA uses it, optimal positioning of the components and stuff.

Here in Part Two, Gerry is looking to TAPR and hams to help improve the CWOP. There's a lot of detail, but it boils down to two elements:

Better Data

Lightening Reporting

These are two action items, and at the end of the talk, TAPR President Steve Bible recruited two TAPR members to lead the effort to identify what new data the CWOP needs, then figure out how to generate and forward it (APRS is a big part of data distribution, but it was never designed for this), and look into methods and maybe hardware for providing lots more rapid, detailed lightning strike data. Yes, we are making the sausage here, and you can grind some if you like.

The effort is just getting started, and as you'll hear at the end of the episode, HamRadioNow doesn't have all the contact data for hams who want to participate. We'll update it as we get it on the HamRadioNow.tv web site (on the Episode 373 page.. sorry, no link available as podcast is being produced).

Radio Rating: B-. If you're a podcast listener, Powerpoint is not your friend (is it anybody'sfriend?), and there are lots of slides. Many are text headlines that Gerry covers. Some are graphs and charts that he describes fairly well, but you miss relationships.

Part One was in HRN Episode 372 (immediately preceding this episode), and both are on the topic of the Citizen Weather Observer Program - all those weather stations that you and your friends have.

In Part One, Gerry Creager N5JXS described the station components, what data they generate and how NOAA uses it, optimal positioning of the components and stuff.

Here in Part Two, Gerry is looking to TAPR and hams to help improve the CWOP. There's a lot of detail, but it boils down to two elements:

Better Data

Lightening Reporting

These are two action items, and at the end of the talk, TAPR President Steve Bible recruited two TAPR members to lead the effort to identify what new data the CWOP needs, then figure out how to generate and forward it (APRS is a big part of data distribution, but it was never designed for this), and look into methods and maybe hardware for providing lots more rapid, detailed lightning strike data. Yes, we are making the sausage here, and you can grind some if you like.

The effort is just getting started, and as you'll hear at the end of the episode, HamRadioNow doesn't have all the contact data for hams who want to participate. We'll update it as we get it on the HamRadioNow.tv web site (on the Episode 373 page.. sorry, no link available as podcast is being produced).

Radio Rating: B-. If you're a podcast listener, Powerpoint is not your friend (is it anybody's friend?), and there are lots of slides. Many are text headlines that Gerry covers. Some are graphs and charts that he describes fairly well, but you miss relationships.

]]>02:03:38cleanThe Sunday Seminar (Part TWO) from the 2017 DCC. See details in the full episode description.373fullHRN 372: Citizen Weather from the 2017 DCCCitizen Weather from the 2017 DCC - HRN 372Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:36:43 +0000The Citizen Weather Observer Programties data from all those 'citizen' weather stations out there - the ones you see at the bigger hamfests - into the NOAA system to become part of the reporting and forecasting system. One of the guys in charge is a ham, Gerry Creager N5JXS.

Gerry came to the 2017 ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference in St. Louis to present the Sunday Seminar, the DCC's traditional Deep Dive into a single topic for four hours, closing the conference on Sunday morning.

This podcast is actually just Part One of the talk. Gerry covers a lot of ground, from what the various forms of weather stations are, to the optimum siting of the hardware, to the data supplied and how NOAA uses it.

Part Two, in the next episode of HamRadioNow, looks at possible improvements to the CWOP.

Radio Rating: C+. Gerry has lots of slides, as usual for a TAPR talk. Many are just text headlines, but there are some pictures (especially when he's talking about siting the hardware), and some charts. Most of the time he describes what's in slides well enough to get the idea. But you know, P=1kW.

]]>The Citizen Weather Observer Program ties data from all those 'citizen' weather stations out there - the ones you see at the bigger hamfests - into the NOAA system to become part of the reporting and forecasting system. One of the guys in charge is a ham, Gerry Creager N5JXS.

Gerry came to the 2017 ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference in St. Louis to present the Sunday Seminar, the DCC's traditional Deep Dive into a single topic for four hours, closing the conference on Sunday morning.

This podcast is actually just Part One of the talk. Gerry covers a lot of ground, from what the various forms of weather stations are, to the optimum siting of the hardware, to the data supplied and how NOAA uses it.

Part Two, in the next episode of HamRadioNow, looks at possible improvements to the CWOP.

Radio Rating: C+. Gerry has lots of slides, as usual for a TAPR talk. Many are just text headlines, but there are some pictures (especially when he's talking about siting the hardware), and some charts. Most of the time he describes what's in slides well enough to get the idea. But you know, P=1kW.

]]>01:36:22cleanThe Sunday Seminar (Part ONE) from the 2017 DCC. See details in the full episode description.372fullHRN 371: Where Never Is HeardWhere Never is Heard: HRN 371Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:57:32 +0000Our cryptic title refers to the ARRL Code of Conduct for Directors, initiated in January 2017, that contains multiple provisions requiring Directors to support League positions even if they personally disagree, and not publicly speak against them.

This program brings CQ editor Rich Moseson W2VU, blogger and podcaster Dan Romanchik KB6NU and blogger and podcaster Sterling Coffey N0SSC together with hosts David W0DHG and Gary KN4AQ for an in-depth discussion of the Code of Conduct and the underlying issues with the ARRL Board.

We talk about how the Board has apparently been systematically removing 'disruptive' members by finding ways to keep them from running for re-election (Doug Rehman K4AC [former SE Div Director], Bob Famiglio K3RF [EPA Vice Director, seeking to run for Director]), and how we predict that will happen to current SW Div Director Dick Norton N6AA following his censure by the Board for allegedly speaking out against the Code of Conduct at the Visalia International DX Conference in April 2017.

CQ's December editorial, ARRL: Circling the Wagons, and a White Paper with even more details on what's happening at the ARRL Board, will be online soon at the CQ web site. CQ's January editorial will focus on the Code of Conduct itself.

Dan Romanchik KB6NU's blog post - What the heck is the ARRL Board thinking? - on Dick Norton's censure contains comments from prominent hams who were there and said that Dick spoke about the Code of Conduct, but not against it. The minutes of the meeting where the Code was approved show that Dick and two others Board members voted against it.

Radio Rating: A++. We do show the text of the documents, blog posts and web sites, and a very few pictures, but we read all the pertinent parts. Otherwise, talking heads.

And for what it's worth, while the show clocks at about 2 hours, the pointed discussion is about 90 minutes. The last 30 minutes is our post-show confab (aka "the best part of the show").

]]>Our cryptic title refers to the ARRL Code of Conduct for Directors, initiated in January 2017, that contains multiple provisions requiring Directors to support League positions even if they personally disagree, and not publicly speak against them.

This program brings CQ editor Rich Moseson W2VU, blogger and podcaster Dan Romanchik KB6NU and blogger and podcaster Sterling Coffey N0SSC together with hosts David W0DHG and Gary KN4AQ for an in-depth discussion of the Code of Conduct and the underlying issues with the ARRL Board.

We talk about how the Board has apparently been systematically removing 'disruptive' members by finding ways to keep them from running for re-election (Doug Rehman K4AC [former SE Div Director], Bob Famiglio K3RF [EPA Vice Director, seeking to run for Director]), and how we predict that will happen to current SW Div Director Dick Norton N6AA following his censure by the Board for allegedly speaking out against the Code of Conduct at the Visalia International DX Conference in April 2017.

CQ's December editorial, ARRL: Circling the Wagons, and a White Paper with even more details on what's happening at the ARRL Board, will be online soon at the CQ web site. CQ's January editorial will focus on the Code of Conduct itself.

Dan Romanchik KB6NU's blog post - What the heck is the ARRL Board thinking? - on Dick Norton's censure contains comments from prominent hams who were there and said that Dick spoke about the Code of Conduct, but not against it. The minutes of the meeting where the Code was approved show that Dick and two others Board members voted against it.

Radio Rating: A++. We do show the text of the documents, blog posts and web sites, and a very few pictures, but we read all the pertinent parts. Otherwise, talking heads.

And for what it's worth, while the show clocks at about 2 hours, the pointed discussion is about 90 minutes. The last 30 minutes is our post-show confab (aka "the best part of the show").

]]>02:16:40cleanarrl,cq,kb6nu,n0ssc,w2vuHamRadioNow's panel discussion on issues surrounding the ARRL Board of Director's Code of Conduct. Please see the detailed show notes for more.371fullKN4AQ, W0DHGHRN 371 PREVIEW: Where Never Is HeardHRN 371 PREVIEW: Where Never Is HeardFri, 01 Dec 2017 03:06:21 +0000This was supposed to be a 10 minute preview of Sunday's show on the ARRL's Code of Conduct for Directors and Vice Directors.

And it was, but it ran an hour. David and Gary love to ramble.

If you love listening to them ramble, this is an episode for you. If not, Sunday's show should be meaty.

Radio Rating: A-. There's some web site stuff, some Facebook stuff, but mostly just talk.

Hey, it's only an hour. That's a short show. But a very long preview.

]]>01:03:06cleanJust promoting the show coming this Sunday, 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific, 0200Z (Monday Zulu).371fullKN4AQ, W0DHGHRN 370: HamCastersHamCasters (HRN 370)Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:31:25 +0000The name HamCasters was created when Gary used it to label a new Reddit sub designed to be a place for ham radio podcasters, YouTubers, bloggers and media creators in general to announce their work, and for the audience to comment on it. There are several Amateur Radio subs on Reddit, but they discourage 'self-promotion' more than on rare occasions. And while a whole sub dedicated to promotion skirts the line, too, this sub is for promoting all Amateur Radio media. So far, the Reddit g(m)ods have not hurled a lightning bolt at it.

The sub is just getting going. Not all ham-media creators have signed on, but it's picking up one or two a month.

So for this episode, Gary and David invited a bunch of show creators and regular participants to get together for a pre-holiday gabfest (because that's what we all do). Here's who we got:

Sterling Coffey N0SSC (Phasing Line Podcast, YouTube star)

Dan Romanchik KB6NU (ICQ Podcast, author, blogger)

Curtis Mohr K5CLM (Everything Ham Radio Podcast)

Onno Benschop VK6FLAB (Foundations of Amateur Radio Podcast)

Sam Reynolds KM4WDK (HamKID YouTube show)

Bill Stearns NE4RD (Linux in the Hamshack, Newsline)

Radio Rating: A+. All talking heads, and a few web sites (and one clip of Sterling at school looking young and nerdy, but he's young and cool now, so it's OK).

]]>The name HamCasters was created when Gary used it to label a new Reddit sub designed to be a place for ham radio podcasters, YouTubers, bloggers and media creators in general to announce their work, and for the audience to comment on it. There are several Amateur Radio subs on Reddit, but they discourage 'self-promotion' more than on rare occasions. And while a whole sub dedicated to promotion skirts the line, too, this sub is for promoting all Amateur Radio media. So far, the Reddit g(m)ods have not hurled a lightning bolt at it.

The sub is just getting going. Not all ham-media creators have signed on, but it's picking up one or two a month.

So for this episode, Gary and David invited a bunch of show creators and regular participants to get together for a pre-holiday gabfest (because that's what we all do). Here's who we got:

Sterling Coffey N0SSC (Phasing Line Podcast, YouTube star)

Dan Romanchik KB6NU (ICQ Podcast, author, blogger)

Curtis Mohr K5CLM (Everything Ham Radio Podcast)

Onno Benschop VK6FLAB (Foundations of Amateur Radio Podcast)

Sam Reynolds KM4WDK (HamKID YouTube show)

Bill Stearns NE4RD (Linux in the Hamshack, Newsline)

Radio Rating: A+. All talking heads, and a few web sites (and one clip of Sterling at school looking young and nerdy, but he's young and cool now, so it's OK).

Full title: How to Fill a Terabyte Disk: Using SDR in the HamSCI Solar Eclipse Experiment

Count on John Ackermann N8UR to put a TAPR spin on the HamSCI experiment. John combined his ultra-accurate time/frequency skills with the TAPR/HPSDR radios to generate a lot of information from the Eclipse QSO Party and WWV observations. All from a little island in Lake Michigan.

Radio Rating: C. You'll miss the data in the charts. So not an F, but watch the video if you can.

Full title: How to Fill a Terabyte Disk: Using SDR in the HamSCI Solar Eclipse Experiment

Count on John Ackermann N8UR to put a TAPR spin on the HamSCI experiment. John combined his ultra-accurate time/frequency skills with the TAPR/HPSDR radios to generate a lot of information from the Eclipse QSO Party and WWV observations. All from a little island in Lake Michigan.

Radio Rating: C. You'll miss the data in the charts. So not an F, but watch the video if you can.

]]>42:11cleanFull title: How to Fill a Terabyte Disk: Using SDR in the HamSCI Solar Eclipse Experiment
Count on John Ackermann N8UR to put a TAPR spin on the HamSCI experiment. John combined his ultra-accurate time/frequency skills with the TAPR/HPSDR radios to generate a lot of information from the Eclipse QSO Party and WWV observations. All from a little island in Lake Michigan.369fullKN4AQ, N8URHRN 368: HamSCI Eclipse - 2017 DCCHamSCI Eclipse - 2017 DCCSun, 12 Nov 2017 23:01:41 +0000Skip the intro - FF to 5:14 (but think about clicking the Pig).

You probably heard about the Eclipse QSO Party that generated lots of activity during the Great American Eclipse of 2017. It also generated lots of science, currently being digested by the team at HamSCI. They presented preliminary results and talked methodology in this team-talk at the 2017 DCC, led by Nate Frissell W2NAF. (And they're all so young!).

Radio Rating: B-. There are lots of charts and graphs, and you'll miss some details, but the guys explain it pretty well, and the story is compelling.

You probably heard about the Eclipse QSO Party that generated lots of activity during the Great American Eclipse of 2017. It also generated lots of science, currently being digested by the team at HamSCI. They presented preliminary results and talked methodology in this team-talk at the 2017 DCC, led by Nate Frissell W2NAF. (And they're all so young!).

Radio Rating: B-. There are lots of charts and graphs, and you'll miss some details, but the guys explain it pretty well, and the story is compelling.

]]>01:12:38cleanYou probably heard about the Eclipse QSO Party that generated lots of activity during the Great American Eclipse of 2017. It also generated lots of science, currently being digested by the team at HamSCI. They presented preliminary results and talked methodology at the 2017 DCC, led by Nate Frissell W2NAF. (And they're all so young!).
Radio Rating: B-. There are lots of charts and graphs, and you'll miss some details, but the guys explain it pretty well, and the story is compelling.fullHRN 367: Ground Based Repeater for GeoSAT from the 2017 DCCGround Based Repeater for GeoSAT from the 2017 DCCSun, 12 Nov 2017 22:49:43 +0000Skip the intro - FF to 5:14 (but think about clicking the Pig).

This year, Wally Ritchie WU1Y wrote a paper that was presented by Steve Conklin AI4QR with more detail on the satellite, but mainly on plans for ground-based repeaters to do make the satellite easier to use for hams.

Radio Rating: B. Steve has some graphics slides, but many are text. And much of the talk is Q&A with no slides. As usual, go to the video if you need a fill.

This year, Wally Ritchie WU1Y wrote a paper that was presented by Steve Conklin AI4QR with more detail on the satellite, but mainly on plans for ground-based repeaters to do make the satellite easier to use for hams.

Radio Rating: B. Steve has some graphics slides, but many are text. And much of the talk is Q&A with no slides. As usual, go to the video if you need a fill.

Actually TNC-Pi 9.6k - Mark Griffith KD0QYN has upgraded the TNC Pi to 9600 bps... if you're signal is strong enough. Lots of details in this talk that puts the P back in TAPR.

Radio Rating: C. Keep in mind that this is not rating the quality of the program, just how much you lose (or keep) without the video. So lots of charts and graphs, but pretty well explained.

]]>42:15cleanSkip the intro - FF to 5:14 (but think about clicking the Pig).
Actually TNC-Pi 9.6k - Mark Griffith KD0QYN has upgraded the TNC Pi to 9600 bps... if you're signal is strong enough. Lots of details in this talk that puts the P back in TAPR.
Radio Rating: C. Keep in mind that this is not rating the quality of the program, just how much you lose (or keep) without the video. So lots of charts and graphs, but pretty well explained.366fullKN4AQ, KD0QYNHRN 365: NCIS NewingtonNCIS Newington on Ham Radio NowTue, 07 Nov 2017 00:09:15 +0000Last episode we had a little fun with some clips from a recent episode of NCIS, a popular and long-running crime drama on CBS. The episode titled Trapped had a significant amount of amateur radio in the plot. What we found in a quick scan was the usual butchering of radio procedure, along with a nice pat on the back.

We missed a lot, and were promptly told about it in comments and email. Besides 'handles' and wacky call signs, one of the hams apparently had serious paranoid delusions, and we were all pretty much tossed under the anti-social bus.

So we went back and picked out three sets of clips. First, we'll hear what ham radio sounds like in this corner of TV-land. Then we'll get a look at the gear they assembled for two stations (Kenwood will be happy, maybe). Finally, we'll hear what the NCIS agents think of ham radio, and we'll meet the ham who represents us in Prime Time, now that Tim Allen has retired.

Speaking of Tim Allen, Gary reached out to Last Man Standing Executive Producer John Amodeo NN6JA for his thoughts. John didn't want to appear on the show directly (you'll hear why), but he did give us cogent comments in writing. Gary and John are used to ham radio being inaccurately depicted in the general media, but Gary thinks this time we're seeing some actual damage.

Radio Rating: B. The dialog plus Gary's descriptions should carry you through this one pretty well.

]]>Last episode we had a little fun with some clips from a recent episode of NCIS, a popular and long-running crime drama on CBS. The episode titled Trapped had a significant amount of amateur radio in the plot. What we found in a quick scan was the usual butchering of radio procedure, along with a nice pat on the back.

We missed a lot, and were promptly told about it in comments and email. Besides 'handles' and wacky call signs, one of the hams apparently had serious paranoid delusions, and we were all pretty much tossed under the anti-social bus.

So we went back and picked out three sets of clips. First, we'll hear what ham radio sounds like in this corner of TV-land. Then we'll get a look at the gear they assembled for two stations (Kenwood will be happy, maybe). Finally, we'll hear what the NCIS agents think of ham radio, and we'll meet the ham who represents us in Prime Time, now that Tim Allen has retired.

Speaking of Tim Allen, Gary reached out to Last Man Standing Executive Producer John Amodeo NN6JA for his thoughts. John didn't want to appear on the show directly (you'll hear why), but he did give us cogent comments in writing. Gary and John are used to ham radio being inaccurately depicted in the general media, but Gary thinks this time we're seeing some actual damage.

Radio Rating: B. The dialog plus Gary's descriptions should carry you through this one pretty well.

]]>01:05:33cleanHam Radio takes a beating on a recent episode of the CBS crime drama NCIS. Gary and David look into it.365fullKN4AQ, W0DHGHRN 364: ICOM Stuns, Kills DMR (Click Bait Title)ICOM Stuns, Kills DMR (a Click-Bait Headline)Fri, 03 Nov 2017 13:58:02 +0000We lead this episode with a note from ARRL HQ responding to our Force of Two episode about ham radio's part in Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. We invited the League's Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey KI1U to talk to us (or pass the request along). He did pass it along, HQ declined the invitation to appear, but did send a short note that we'll read.

Next, the click-bait headline story. On October 30, Ray Novak N9JA, Amateur Division Manager for Icom America, wrote a story on the ICOM blog titled Is Your Digital Repeater Ham Friendly?Our baitworthy headline comes from Ray's warning that some features in the radios designed for an un-named commercial digital radio service (cough dmr cough) can be used against the unwary operator (stun, kill, monitor) and have no place in the amateur radio service. We agree, but find Ray's treatment of the subject somewhat opaque, heavy-handed, and less than helpful. But what the heck - we're clearly not above a click-bait headline ourselves.

Helping us understand the details is Jason Johnston KC5HWB from the Ham Radio 2.0show. Jason reviews just about every Chinese/DMR radio that crosses the ocean to America. Ray also casts a shadow over a DMR 'required feature' called talkgroups. Our discussion branches out to cover that and other comparisons between DMR and D-STAR.

Finally, the night before the show, CBS aired a new episode of NCISthat had a significant ham radio element. We show (you'll hear) a couple of clips that do the usual hack job on real ham procedure, but also include an almost press-release explanation of what ham radio is. Unfortunately (we are told... we didn't watch the whole show) the ham-protagonist in the plot turns out to be unstable, and (we are told) that hams are portrayed as anti-social in general. Maybe we should watch the whole thing.

Radio Rating:A-. We read all of the ARRL's note, so you won't miss that on-screen. There's a link to Ray's blog so you can see it all for yourself, as we don't read the whole thing to you. And you'll miss the video from NCIS, but if you picture a well-equipped, Kenwood-centric station, the dialog will carry you the rest of the way.

]]>We lead this episode with a note from ARRL HQ responding to our Force of Two episode about ham radio's part in Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. We invited the League's Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey KI1U to talk to us (or pass the request along). He did pass it along, HQ declined the invitation to appear, but did send a short note that we'll read.

Next, the click-bait headline story. On October 30, Ray Novak N9JA, Amateur Division Manager for Icom America, wrote a story on the ICOM blog titled Is Your Digital Repeater Ham Friendly?Our baitworthy headline comes from Ray's warning that some features in the radios designed for an un-named commercial digital radio service (cough dmr cough) can be used against the unwary operator (stun, kill, monitor) and have no place in the amateur radio service. We agree, but find Ray's treatment of the subject somewhat opaque, heavy-handed, and less than helpful. But what the heck - we're clearly not above a click-bait headline ourselves.

Helping us understand the details is Jason Johnston KC5HWB from the Ham Radio 2.0show. Jason reviews just about every Chinese/DMR radio that crosses the ocean to America. Ray also casts a shadow over a DMR 'required feature' called talkgroups. Our discussion branches out to cover that and other comparisons between DMR and D-STAR.

Finally, the night before the show, CBS aired a new episode of NCISthat had a significant ham radio element. We show (you'll hear) a couple of clips that do the usual hack job on real ham procedure, but also include an almost press-release explanation of what ham radio is. Unfortunately (we are told... we didn't watch the whole show) the ham-protagonist in the plot turns out to be unstable, and (we are told) that hams are portrayed as anti-social in general. Maybe we should watch the whole thing.

Radio Rating:A-. We read all of the ARRL's note, so you won't miss that on-screen. There's a link to Ray's blog so you can see it all for yourself, as we don't read the whole thing to you. And you'll miss the video from NCIS, but if you picture a well-equipped, Kenwood-centric station, the dialog will carry you the rest of the way.

]]>01:55:41cleanThis show has three parts; ARRL's response to our 'Force of Two' episode; a warning from ICOM's Ray Novak N9JA about some DMR features; a peek at an NCIS episode that has a major ham radio element. And yes, it's a click-bait headline.364fullKN4AQ, W0DHG, KC5HWBARCHIVE EPISODE: HRN 204: Don Miller W9WNV 2015 Dayton DX ForumARCHIVE EPISODE: Don Miller W9WNV 2015 Dayton DX ForumMon, 30 Oct 2017 16:31:02 +0000This is an archive episode from the 2015 Hamvention® DX forum. It hasn't appeared on the podcast, and we have a little upload space left at the end of October, so here you go...

If you were a DXer in the 1960's, you knew all about Don Miller W9WNV. Or you thought you did. I became a ham in 1965, but my attention was elsewhere, so learning about this now, decades later, has been fascinating.

Don wasn't the first DXpeditioner, but he expanded and refined the game. He helped demonstrate the need for clear rules and definitions, sometimes by breaking them. He spent time in prison (serious, disputed, but not ham related), and regained his ham license after his release in 2002.

Google Don's name and call sign, and spend a few hours digesting all the material about him out there. In this episode from the Hamvention DX forum, Don talks about much of this (not the prison part). His story may not be over... -Gary KN4AQ

Radio Rating: A+. Gary adds some graphics in the intro, but you won't miss the pictures.

]]>This is an archive episode from the 2015 Hamvention® DX forum. It hasn't appeared on the podcast, and we have a little upload space left at the end of October, so here you go...

If you were a DXer in the 1960's, you knew all about Don Miller W9WNV. Or you thought you did. I became a ham in 1965, but my attention was elsewhere, so learning about this now, decades later, has been fascinating.

Don wasn't the first DXpeditioner, but he expanded and refined the game. He helped demonstrate the need for clear rules and definitions, sometimes by breaking them. He spent time in prison (serious, disputed, but not ham related), and regained his ham license after his release in 2002.

Google Don's name and call sign, and spend a few hours digesting all the material about him out there. In this episode from the Hamvention DX forum, Don talks about much of this (not the prison part). His story may not be over... -Gary KN4AQ

Radio Rating: A+. Gary adds some graphics in the intro, but you won't miss the pictures.

]]>33:14cleanThis is an archive episode from the 2015 Hamvention® DX forum.
If you were a DXer in the 1960's, you knew all about Don Miller W9WNV. Or you thought you did. Don wasn't the first DXpeditioner, but he expanded and refined the game. He helped demonstrate the need for clear rules and definitions, sometimes by breaking them. He spent time in prison (serious, disputed, but not ham related), and regained his ham license after his release in 2002. He's speaking here at the 2015 Dayton DX Forum.fullHRN 363: Firmware Tools for openHPSDR, from the 2017 DCCFirmware Tools for openHPSDR, from the 2017 DCCMon, 30 Oct 2017 16:00:23 +0000Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Dave LarsenKV0S's complete title for this talk is Development and Design of Firmware Programming Tools for the openHPSDR Hardware. And that says a lot about where this talk is going.

HPSDR - High Performance Software Defined Radio - is an ongoing DIY project that began in conjunction with TAPR that designed and built the first direct sampling SDR HF 'transceiver' for amateur radio. It's been going on for more than a decade, and the ARVN videos from the 2008 and 2009 DCC's have several talks describing the progress (find them on the HamRadioNow.tv web site's TAPR archives).

Dave's talk is something of a history lesson, focusing on tools to program the boards.

The industry has moved on, with companies like FlexRadio, ICOM, Elad and others producing off-the-shelf SDR radios, but the HPSDR project continues for hams who want to learn more and build their own.

Radio Rating: C or D. Dave has a lot of text, but also some slides with charts and pictures of the software GUI's. So if you're already familiar with the HPSDR system, you might not need the images to absorb the talk. If you're not deep into HPSDR, but you are interesting in programming, you'll probably need the pictures. And if you're not deep into either, come back to the video when you've gotten your feet (ankles, and maybe knees) wet in SDR.

]]>Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Dave Larsen KV0S's complete title for this talk is Development and Design of Firmware Programming Tools for the openHPSDR Hardware. And that says a lot about where this talk is going.

HPSDR - High Performance Software Defined Radio - is an ongoing DIY project that began in conjunction with TAPR that designed and built the first direct sampling SDR HF 'transceiver' for amateur radio. It's been going on for more than a decade, and the ARVN videos from the 2008 and 2009 DCC's have several talks describing the progress (find them on the HamRadioNow.tv web site's TAPR archives).

Dave's talk is something of a history lesson, focusing on tools to program the boards.

The industry has moved on, with companies like FlexRadio, ICOM, Elad and others producing off-the-shelf SDR radios, but the HPSDR project continues for hams who want to learn more and build their own.

Radio Rating: C or D. Dave has a lot of text, but also some slides with charts and pictures of the software GUI's. So if you're already familiar with the HPSDR system, you might not need the images to absorb the talk. If you're not deep into HPSDR, but you are interesting in programming, you'll probably need the pictures. And if you're not deep into either, come back to the video when you've gotten your feet (ankles, and maybe knees) wet in SDR.

]]>55:01cleanDave Larsen KV0S's complete title for this talk is Development and Design of Firmware Programming Tools for the openHPSDR Hardware. And that says a lot about where this talk is going.363fullKN4AQ, KV0SHRN 362: Radio Tracking Fish with Drones, from the 2017 DCCRadio Tracking Fish with Drones, from the 2017 DCCMon, 30 Oct 2017 15:30:48 +0000Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Midwestern rivers have a serious problem with an invasive species of carp that the USGS was trying to track using radio tags (yep, on the fish). But they needed some radio expertise to advance the project to receive the signals using drones rather than people with yagi's on boats. Dave Witten KDOEAG got involved through a request for help at his local radio club.

This talk follows the progress of the project, which rapidly grew to include multiple agencies (including NASA) and experts... and Dave. It's not ham radio, but it is an interesting exploration of radio technology where you might not expect it.

Radio Rating: C+. Dave has lots of pictures of the devices and locations, and some charts and graphs. You'll miss that detail, but you'll get the gist of the project. Go back for the video on the HamRadioNow.tv web site if you're more intrigued.

]]>Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Midwestern rivers have a serious problem with an invasive species of carp that the USGS was trying to track using radio tags (yep, on the fish). But they needed some radio expertise to advance the project to receive the signals using drones rather than people with yagi's on boats. Dave Witten KDOEAG got involved through a request for help at his local radio club.

This talk follows the progress of the project, which rapidly grew to include multiple agencies (including NASA) and experts... and Dave. It's not ham radio, but it is an interesting exploration of radio technology where you might not expect it.

Radio Rating: C+. Dave has lots of pictures of the devices and locations, and some charts and graphs. You'll miss that detail, but you'll get the gist of the project. Go back for the video on the HamRadioNow.tv web site if you're more intrigued.

]]>48:46cleanMidwestern rivers have a serious problem with an invasive species of carp that the USGS was trying to track using radio tags (yep, on the fish). But they needed some radio expertise to advance the project to receive the signals using drones rather than people with yagi's on boats. Dave Witten KDOEAG got involved through a request for help at his local radio club.
This talk follows the progress of the project, which rapidly grew to include multiple agencies (including NASA) and experts... and Dave. 362fullKN4AQ, KD0EAGHRN 361: Internet Telegraph, from the 2017 DCCInternet Telegraph, from the 2017 DCCMon, 30 Oct 2017 15:09:37 +0000Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Although Morse code is no longer required to get a ham license, it's still quite popular, and can be a draw for some potential hams before they get licensed. Learning it is one thing, but being able to use it while still learning is a challenge before you're licensed and have a station set up.

Scotty Cowling WA2DFI faced this problem with his Explorer Scout Post. First, he used his TAPR skills to develop an improved, inexpensive and easy-to-build CPO (Code Practice Oscillator).

Then he discovered a Rabpberry Pi based online system for using Morse over the Internet, but it had some drawbacks that he used his TAPR skills to improve. The project is fairly simple and inexpensive, and something every club should consider. You don't have to be a Scout – or even young – to jump on board.

Radio Rating: C-. Scotty has lots of pictures and diagrams, and you won't be able to duplicate the project without them. It might even be a D-, but Scotty is such an enthusiastic and engaging speaker that listening to his talk may spark your interest enough to go to the videotape on HamRadioNow.tv.

]]>Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Although Morse code is no longer required to get a ham license, it's still quite popular, and can be a draw for some potential hams before they get licensed. Learning it is one thing, but being able to use it while still learning is a challenge before you're licensed and have a station set up.

Scotty Cowling WA2DFI faced this problem with his Explorer Scout Post. First, he used his TAPR skills to develop an improved, inexpensive and easy-to-build CPO (Code Practice Oscillator).

Then he discovered a Rabpberry Pi based online system for using Morse over the Internet, but it had some drawbacks that he used his TAPR skills to improve. The project is fairly simple and inexpensive, and something every club should consider. You don't have to be a Scout – or even young – to jump on board.

Radio Rating: C-. Scotty has lots of pictures and diagrams, and you won't be able to duplicate the project without them. It might even be a D-, but Scotty is such an enthusiastic and engaging speaker that listening to his talk may spark your interest enough to go to the videotape on HamRadioNow.tv.

]]>50:02cleanAlthough Morse code is no longer required to get a ham license, it's still quite popular, and can be a draw for some potential hams before they get licensed. Learning it is one thing, but being able to use it while still learning is a challenge before you're licensed and have a station set up.
Scotty Cowling WA2DFI used his TAPR skills to develop an improved, inexpensive and easy-to-build CPO (Code Practice Oscillator). That led to an online system that also needed some improvement.
361fullKN4AQ, WA2DFIHRN 360: A New Generation of Ham Radio - 2017 DCCA New Generation of Ham Radio - Ward Silver N0AX at the 2017 DCCMon, 30 Oct 2017 14:39:14 +0000Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Whatever ham radio rut you're stuck in — ragchewing on 75, DX on 20, the daily commute on a repeater — it's good to listen to Ward Silver N0AX to break out for a while and look... in this case, forward across the horizon and think about what ham radio - and hams - will look like in a decade or three.

This is the least technical talk of the conference. It led off the Saturday morning sessions, and provided a good foundation for the purpose behind the more technical talks to follow.

Radio Rating: A+. Ward has slides, but they're mostly text 'headlines' that he expands on. Ward is an excellent public speaker, and you won't miss a thing without video.

This is a follow-on talk from Ward's 2015 keynote at the DCC Banquet in 2015, released online in February 2016 as HamRadioNow Episode 242: Ham Radio... Now What?. That's only on YouTube video, but it's ripe for an archive episode here on the podcast side of the show.

]]>Skip the 'generic' intro - fast forward to 5:15 (but think about 'click the pig' to support the show)

Whatever ham radio rut you're stuck in — ragchewing on 75, DX on 20, the daily commute on a repeater — it's good to listen to Ward Silver N0AX to break out for a while and look... in this case, forward across the horizon and think about what ham radio - and hams - will look like in a decade or three.

This is the least technical talk of the conference. It led off the Saturday morning sessions, and provided a good foundation for the purpose behind the more technical talks to follow.

Radio Rating: A+. Ward has slides, but they're mostly text 'headlines' that he expands on. Ward is an excellent public speaker, and you won't miss a thing without video.

This is a follow-on talk from Ward's 2015 keynote at the DCC Banquet in 2015, released online in February 2016 as HamRadioNow Episode 242: Ham Radio... Now What?. That's only on YouTube video, but it's ripe for an archive episode here on the podcast side of the show.

]]>49:33cleanWhatever ham radio rut you're stuck in — ragchewing on 75, DX on 20, the daily commute on a repeater — it's good to listen to Ward Silver N0AX to break out for a while and look... in this case, forward across the horizon and think about what ham radio - and hams - will look like in a decade or three.
This is the least technical talk of the conference. It led off the Saturday morning sessions, and provided a good foundation for the purpose behind the more technical talks to follow.360fullKN4AQ, N0AX